Notice period for your job in Germany: when does employment end?

Whether you resign or your employer gives notice: the calculator shows the last day of employment under the statutory periods – with probation and length of service.

The statutory periods

• Basic period: four weeks to the 15th or to the end of a calendar month (§ 622 Abs. 1 BGB). It always applies to employees, and to employers in the first two years.
• If the employer gives notice after longer employment, the period grows: from 2 years one month, from 5 two, from 8 three, from 10 four, from 12 five, from 15 six and from 20 years seven months – each to the end of a month (§ 622 Abs. 2 S. 1 BGB).
• Probation: at most six months, period two weeks, to any day (§ 622 Abs. 3 BGB).

What matters

• The period runs from receipt of the notice, not from the date on the letter.
• Only in writing with a handwritten signature – e-mail, text message or fax are not enough (§ 623 BGB).
• Your employment contract or a collective agreement may set other periods (§ 622 Abs. 4 BGB).

Dismissed by your employer? You have only three weeks for an unfair dismissal claim: calculate that deadline.

General information, not legal advice. Special rules apply to apprentices, pregnant employees, severely disabled people and others.